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The attacks have already fallen flat. When Rush Limbaugh chides Newt Gingrich for his attacks on the fundamentals of capitalism (e.g. the ability to fire and hire freely), then you know the attacks are already dead in the water, at least among conservative Republicans. When Newt Gingrich gets testy in his defense of his critique of the Bain kind of capitalism, then you know the attacks are already on the wane.

The irony of the (non-Romney) Republican candidates criticizing Bain Capital is that these very candidates encouraged this type of capitalism in past policymaking. Candidates Gingrich, Santorum, Perry, Huntsman and Paul are not exempt from Bain-esque behavior. In fact, that is what the free market allows and even aids and abets. That is what Wall Street chicanery is all about.

Anti-Bainism borders on populism by appealing to the growing inequality and growing poverty in this country. Hopefully it is not simply a cheap attack by candidates on the Republican frontrunner and, instead, a genuine commitment to a different kind of economic policy. While I doubt it is the latter, at least we've got a conversation going among Republican candidates about a type of capitalism that is economically underserving America's working class. (Oh but wait, Santorum doesn't think we have classes in this country.)

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